Educational AI proposed to address Australian civics decline

Data indicates that 72 per cent of Australian Year 10 students are not well-versed in the fundamentals of democracy, marking the lowest achievements in the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) civics exams since 2004.

The trend points to a crowded curriculum where civics education does not receive adequate emphasis.

While some propose a curriculum revision, the use of educational artificial intelligence (AI) programs could present a viable alternative to addressing this educational gap.

Julie Quinn, Education Director at Writer's Toolbox, states, "Educational AI should not do the thinking for the student. Instead, it can be specifically engineered to teach the student how to think. Designed to respond to an individual learner's needs through carefully curated instruction and feedback, it can foster deeper thinking and effective knowledge transfer. Students become self-directed learners, following their curiosity, engagement, and exploration. They become increasingly self-aware about their own growth as a learner and their mastery as a thinker. Importantly, students can articulate these abilities if asked."

In the realm of civics, educational AI can enhance critical thinking capabilities by guiding students through a process of analysis and synthesis of diverse information sources. Through its use, students might develop a profound comprehension of democratic principles and improve their skills in argumentation and reasoning.

Quinn explains the contribution of educational AI to civics education by outlining how it can "produce students who can write better, organise their thoughts in deeper ways, communicate more clearly, and answer questions more insightfully. These skills are crucial for developing media literacy, preparing for civic participation, and ensuring they stay informed about Australian values and politics."

Furthermore, educational AI can empower educators by providing real-time data on writing performance and skills, thereby enabling teachers to identify student strengths and weaknesses effectively. This ensures targeted interventions, saving teacher time and allowing for prioritised quality discussions with students. Quinn notes that teacher time is saved, workload reduced, and "learning time and quality discussions with students prioritised. Student achievement can be celebrated."

Through integrating educational AI in classroom settings, students receive immediate, tailored feedback, allowing them to understand their progress and focus on self-directed learning goals.

This approach strengthens their writing and thinking skills in various subjects, building confidence in communication and overall academic performance. Evidence of such impact has been seen in Queensland schools using Writer's Toolbox, which have reported improvement in NAPLAN writing scores at double the rate of state averages.

A comprehensive implementation of AI across the school system can foster continuity of improvement in education. This integration is advocated not only as a measure against the decline in civics results but also as a means of promoting elevating writing standards and effective communication skills among students.

"Within schools, Educational AI is both an enabler of curriculum and the 'how' that writing on a subject like Civics is done," Quinn points out, further illustrating the utility of AI in teaching critical skills such as analysis and reflection.

The application of AI in education as demonstrated by Writer's Toolbox offers a tangible solution to the challenges faced in civics education and aims to equip students with the necessary skills for an active and informed citizenship. Quinn concludes, "While the decline in Civics results is concerning, AI-powered educational tools offer a practical and effective solution."

"By supporting teachers, enhancing critical thinking, and improving writing skills, AI has the potential to reverse this trend and equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for active and informed citizenship."